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Originally Posted by RobertSmalls
If you do this, you'll be driving around much more car than you need, which is wasteful. Sure, a Sprinter gets great gas mileage (but those are not EPA numbers, because the EPA doesn't gather that data on medium-duty vehicles), but a Prius gets much, much better fuel economy and costs less.
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Ok, lets work through this. I admit that when I first read through your reply I thought "Who are you to tell me that it is too much car?" However since I have had time to think it through maybe you have a point.
I do not feel that the EPA numbers are accurate reflections of most drivers MPG. and the numbers I quoted for the Sprinter is 'real world' figures, the 'real world' figures that I find for the Prius is 40-45MPG combined. Yes this would be doubling my current FE. Yes it would be 'easier' than doing my own mod. Yes, it would make the trip without needing to be recharged. No, it would not carry all that I currently need to carry and would need to pull a trailer of some sort about 1/2 the time. No, it is not a vehicle that I am qualified/able to repair. No, it is not a vehicle that could be upgraded to full electric in the future as batteries improve. No, it would not operate long term.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertSmalls
Toyota has been talking about a family of Prius-branded vehicles, such as the Prius coupe (small hybrid) and Prius van. Eventually, those will be interesting vehicles in their segments. Until then, the best midsized car on the market gets 50 EPA MPG, and the best large minivan gets 20 EPA MPG.
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I agree a Prius van would probably fit the bill. I am not looking at 6 years down the road but now. If I were able to look at cars I would like the 1984 Lincoln Mark 6(?) with the Turbo Diesel it got 50 MPG EPA (about 45 RW) and do a hybrid conversion on that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertSmalls
Since you already own a minivan, I recommend you use it for trips with the family. Sleep outside the vehicle, in tents when it's warm, or a cabin when it's cold. That frees you up to get a smaller vehicle for commuting. You could even haul a few weeks supplies in a compact hatchback, as long as you don't need to bring the whole family shopping.
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I would like to replace the mini van completely. I do not need 2 cars (except maybe a golf cart for in town driving). Where I live it is below 0F at least 6 months of the year, and paying for a motel/cabin would not be economically feasible. I do usually take the whole family because it is usually the only time we get out of the house.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertSmalls
Size is the enemy of good aerodynamics. 0.294 Cd is one thing, but remember that Cd is always multiplied by frontal area to give CdA. Also, crosswinds are a much bigger drag on a longer vehicle than a shorter one.
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Understood. Thankyou for the input, please think about this and see if there are any other solutions you might see that I do not. I am sorry for my initial reaction and hope that you would continue to point out flaws in my logic.
A point in thought, If I took the dimensions of the Vixon and scaled it to a Mini van size as a base, could that be a good start?
PS Here are the pics